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WRC: Sébastien Loeb extends lead on third day of Monte Carlo Rally

Petter Solberg held onto third place after three rounds of the World Rally Championship season-opening event in Monte Carlo. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Sébastien Loeb's lead grew on day three of the Monte Carlo Rally, the opening round of this year's World Rally Championship.

The Citroën driver made the best tire choice in icy conditions during Friday's action and is now more than two minutes ahead of Mini driver Dani Sordo.

“This morning was very difficult as there was rain falling on the frozen road, which made it extremely slippery,” Loeb said. “We had the right tire choice, with four studded tires, and that meant we could relax.”

Petter Solberg, in the only remaining factory Ford following Jari-Matti Latvala's accident on the opening day, started Friday in third, only a few of seconds behind Sordo, but lost nearly a minute on the icy second stage because of a disastrous tire choice. He gambled on using slick tires, figuring that the conditions were less treacherous than they were.

“On this rally it's easy to lose a minute with something like this,” Solberg said. “But on the other hand, it's easy to make up a minute too.”

Mikko Hirvonen, on his debut rally with the factory Citroën team, is fourth, less than 30 seconds behind Solberg.

The rally now moves from Valence to Monaco for the final two days of the all-asphalt event, which this year covers five days. Saturday's action takes in four special stages, including the legendary Col de Turini stages, run at night.